Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer Clinic

3/29/2017, 1:30pm

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and University of Minnesota Entomology have partnered to help inform the public about the Emerald Ash Borer. With recent outbreaks in Coon Rapids and Blaine, it is important to know what treatment options are available to property owners in the area.

Additional Information Regarding Emerald Ash Borer

3/2/2017, 4:00pm

In response to the impending arrival of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), the City developed a comprehensive EAB management plan in 2009. That plan included proactive removal of ash trees. In 2010, we secured a $70,000 State grant that included a City match of $40,000. That year we implemented our management strategy of removing boulevard and park trees that were unhealthy or otherwise undesirable. Boulevard trees are within the City right-of-way which is typically 15 feet from the curb. The replacement trees are free and installed by the City. We also offered a replacement tree for any boulevard ash we removed. We have continued proactive removal of ash trees every year since 2010. Now that we have actually discovered EAB in Blaine, we need to adjust our strategy and target any boulevard ash tree located near the infested tree.

Homeowners will have the option to keep their boulevard tree, if they choose to treat the tree with injections. We will continue to offer replacement trees if the homeowner desires.

Emerald Ash Borer Discovered in Blaine

3/2/2017, 10:00am

The Forestry Department recently inspected a suspicious ash tree located near Carrara West Park (1495 132nd Avenue NE) and diagnosed the tree as having Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This diagnosis has been confirmed by the Department of Agriculture. This is the first ash tree diagnosed with EAB in Blaine.

EAB could potentially become the most destructive forest pest in Minnesota’s history. There are tens of thousands of ash trees in Blaine and all are at risk of getting EAB. There are very effective treatments that can virtually guarantee to protect your tree from getting EAB, and there are treatments that we do not recommend.

Recommended

The best way to protect your ash tree is to have a professional inject your tree. Tree injections are highly effective and can protect your tree for up to three years. You will need to re-inject the tree to keep it protected after three years.

Not Recommended

There are chemicals available that you mix with water and pour around the root system of the tree. We DO NOT recommend using this method. This method is not very effective, and could potentially leach into the groundwater.